Urge any arts social media managers to pull their organisations from X/Twitter as soon as possible, particularly if your organisation works with children in any capacity. Grok AI is even more cooked than other AIs. www.bbc.com/news/article...

Y’all need to pay your social media managers more. The amount of AI slop we have to look at on Facebook when many of us would like nothing more than to close our accounts is unreal.

I recently looked at a season brochure for an orchestra and of the 46 individual pieces of music listed across various dates (yes, I actually counted them), 6 were by women. By the way, 3 were in one concert. Tempted to do this for all orchestras, and make a league table.

In Cambridge, you get an insight into how not everyone has a marketing brain. The concert posters tied to railings are often a lesson in what not to do. Text too small, colours not contrasting enough, QR codes in places difficult to reach, artist names no one’s heard of and no other information…

Diary of a freelancer: Monday: how am I going to pay the rent next month? Tuesday: how am I going to do all this work next month? There is no in between.

Got an email from an orchestra describing an upcoming concert as having a “wide-ranging” programme. On the programme is music by four white men.

I’ve raised over £15,000 for clients this year… am I begrudgingly turning into an arts fundraiser?

I went to a conference of people who work in arts marketing. The speaker at the final keynote clearly hadn’t done his research. We know we can be creative, it’s pretty much a prerequisite of working in the sector.

#London: there's a really awesome concert on Sunday 29 June at @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social with Sinfonia Cymru, Misha Mullov Abado and Bridget O'Donnell. It's such a cool concept and programme, with lots of different cultural influences. See you there? www.sinfoniasmithsq.org.uk/event/songs-...

I've now got some photos that I'm really proud of and I'd like to physically display some of them. I'm hoping to soon move to a house or flat where I'll have more wall space and more control over said wall space. I'd love some ideas on how to do this... #photography

We're opening applications to City Music Foundation’s Artist Programme at ✨10am on Friday 13th June✨. We support selected, exceptional musicians at the start of their professional careers with our CMF Artist Programme. Full details are available from our website citymusicfoundation.org/apply-now/

LinkedIn-core. The internet is insane.

Booked accommodation for Arts Marketing Association conference. In Edinburgh. In the summer. May have to sell both kidneys.

Getting to see amazing concerts and take photos after months of marketing them really is the cherry on the cake. Newbury Spring Festival off to a flying start with English Chamber Orchestra under Roberto Forés Veses, and pianist Emanuil Ivanov playing to a packed St Nicolas Church.

A fantastic opening to Newbury Spring Festival on Saturday. The parade, organised with the Corn Exchange and 101 Outdoor Arts saw local musicians, dancers and a huge puppet take to the streets, culminating in a party in the Market Square with Ladbroke Grove’s own Metronomes Steel Orchestra.

📢 We are hiring 📢 for a Digital Content Manager to join our team from September. Deadline is Monday 2 June. Read more here including a link to the full recruitment pack: opera-rara.com/careers

🚨🌱 The Chancellor is reviewing all public spending from scratch. Please join me in signing the @campaignforthearts.org petition to remind the UK Govt: the arts make our lives happier & our communities stronger. Now is the moment to invest in them. www.campaignforthearts.org/petitions/sp...

Getting ready for two weeks 'down south' as Newbury Spring Festival kicks off on Saturday. Lots to do before then, but I'm excited for some great music. www.newburyspringfestival.org.uk/events/photo/

Have you spotted this article by our Artistic Director Carlo Rizzi for Gramophone magazine ⁉️ He takes you through 10 rare operas that we've recorded that you may or may not have heard of... with links to where you can hear them on @prestomusic.bsky.social 🎧 www.gramophone.co.uk/features/art...

Alright #freelancers what’s the craic with this Making Tax Digital malarkey then? My turnover as a sole trader is gong to qualify me in the first wave… I do my own accounts, so do I now need to buy some stupidly expensive software or pay some stupidly expensive accountant? What is everyone doing?

Check out @operarara.bsky.social’s 55th season 👀

I’ve had one too many unsolicited sales DMs on LinkedIn this week and unfortunately this slime-ball bore the brunt of my sarcasm. If you’re going to do this on LinkedIn as part of your sales strategy, read your prospects’ profiles first.

My toxic trait is that although I’m a massive atheist, I also love visiting cathedrals) cause I like history), and then I get irritated when something religious happens, like a prayer. But anyway, here’s Chichester cathedral, ft Holst and the Arundel tomb.

Pleased for my client the National Children's Choir of Great Britain, who hit their fundraising target with the Big Give this week. We're using the money to keep auditions free and to hold auditions in more areas of the country - a very important step towards improving accessibility to our choirs.

Reading back on a digital strategy I wrote for a client and had one of those rare moments of “oh yes, I DO know what I’m talking about”.

Nearly 9 years ago, me and this dashing chap started our first “proper jobs” within a week of each other. He in fundraising, me in marketing. We hit it off and became firm friends. This weekend I was at his wedding in New Zealand. He married the most amazing man, and I’m so pleased for them both.

Great to actually be in the studio for Opera Rara’s most recent episode of Lives in Song: Donizetti this evening. You can catch up on the livestreamed episode here: www.youtube.com/live/1IchffQ...

Dear music artists, sending a concert promoter a YouTube link in 2025 isn't going to cut it. Send the video file. They want to share your music with their audience on their social media channels and linking off the platform is not going to get you loadsa views. Sincerely, all the marketing managers.

I don't book onto Zoom trainings/webinars unless the format is detailed on the listing page. I will not be suddenly sprung into a "let's go round the screen and introduce ourselves" or "we're going to put you in breakout groups to discuss" situation, however useful the training is.

Late to this party but I have a lot of thoughts on Lord Rose's comments. I don't think "I had to go to work, so should you" should be enough of a reason to dismiss home working. 🧵 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In case you’re joining us on Bluesky following El*n M*sk’s apparent Nazi salute, welcome. I’ve been putting together an Arts Marketing starter pack. If you’d like to be added to it, just comment below.

#Freelance question… I kind of need to do something about a pension this year. Can any freelancers out there make recommendations? I’ve been freelance for 3 years and am saving approx 50% of my gross income, which more than covers tax, but would like to direct some of the leftover into a pension.

The second episode of Lives in Song: Donizetti is now live. So proud to have produced this brilliant and informative series for Opera Rara! www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mXy...

Any fellow arts administrators marvelling at the fact that we’re in mid January and somehow it it feels like we’ve done at least a month’s worth of work already.

Putting together an exciting proposal with a former colleague. Just hoping it comes together.

Thought I’d ease back into work this week, but it’s been more of a dramatic plunge. I’m still eating leftover cheese for most meals, so it still feels vaguely festive.

Just seen an arts job post on LinkedIn and someone has commented pointing out the minimum wage from March will likely be more than the salary offered and that they probably shouldn’t be asking for a degree. Absolutely hard agree.

Weirdest junk email flex of the year is someone offering to sell me the Arts Marketing Association’s contact list. As a paid up member of said association, I’d be buying my own contact details and a sizeable chunk of my address book.

I haven’t listened to Rite of Spring in ages. Genuinely forgot how many movements are just absolute bangers. #Stravinsky

For any new intrepid explorers of this place, there’s an arts marketing starter pack here. Please drop a comment or get in touch by carrier pigeon if you would like to be added to it. #arts #culture #theatre #music #opera #museums #heritage #artsmarketing #classicalmusic

Being freelance and looking at your own website analytics is always fun. Shoutout to my fans in, er, Lewisham, Luton and Woodbridge…

Good luck to all my fundraising colleagues who are dealing with Big Give admin for the next week.

Earlier this month, the BBC Newsround team came to the National Children’s Choir of Great Britain’s auditions. They interviewed some of the children auditioning, and our Musical Director, Dan Ludford-Thomas. This morning, the piece aired on TV! Feeling very proud 📺😍 www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/vi...

Calling musicians with an interest in choral conducting! We've just opened applications to our Introduction to Choral Conducting Programme. Please share this post with anyone who might be interested in this fab opportunity 🙏 APPLY NOW www.nccgb.com/introduction... #choralmusic #choirs #choir

Another one from the photography vault. Tenebrae at Douai Abbey during Newbury Spring Festival earlier this year. Loved shooting in this space, it’s so beautiful.

Having been freelance since May 2022, it’s always a nice but slightly strange change when I have to go to a client’s office. It was nice to have some company for once, but I honestly can’t remember how I spent 5 days per week in an open plan office and got any work done. It’s so distracting.

As a marketer, it’s hard not to be obsessed with the reactions to the Jaguar rebrand.

Thought I’d start sharing some of my photography. Here’s conductor Stephen Barlow taking a bow with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Newbury Spring Festival, May 2024.

Introduce yourself with your worst feedback from school Hi, I’m Milly and I am a shadow of the person I once was.

In case anyone is remotely interested, there's the bare bones of an arts marketing/PR/comms/box office/audience development starter pack here - comment or DM me to get added. go.bsky.app/MrLNVj1 #arts #artsandculture #artsmarketing